Depression

Question 1

What is depression

Answer 1

-characterised by low mood / energy levels
-categories of depression + depressive disorders :
Major depressive disorder- severe but short-term
Persistent depressive disorder - long-term + include MDD
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder - childhood tantrums
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder - mood disruption prior/during menstruation

Question 2

Describe the behavioural categories of depression

Answer 2

Activity levels
-lethargic - reduced energy levels
-withdraw from work, social life/education
-unable to leave bed or opposite effect -> psychomotor agitation -> cant relax/pacing up and down

Disruption to sleep/eating
-insomnia - premature waking
-hypersomnia
-appetite change -> weight gain/loss

Aggression/self-harm
-verbally - end relationship / quit job
-physically - self-harm, suicide , cutting

Question 3

Describe the emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 3

Lowered mood
-More pronounced than a daily kind - lethargic + sad
-worthless and empty

Anger
-ve emotions not limited to sadness
-frequent
-At self/others
-leads to aggressive/self-harming behaviour

Lowered self-esteem
-how much we Like ourselves
-self-loathing -> quite extreme

Question 4

Describe the cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 4

Tend to process info about world differently from ‘normal’

Poor concentration
-unable to stick to a task
-hard to make decisions
-poor concentration/decision making -> interferes w work

Dwelling on the -ve
-inclined to pay more attention to -ve aspects and ignore +ves
-bias to recalling unhappy events

Absolutist thinking
-all situations are all-good or all-bad
-if situation is unfortunate -> total disaster